Sanitary magnetically operated valve



Patented Aug. 24, 1954 SANITARY MAGNETICALLY OPERATED VALVE Hermann F. Bremer and Bronx, N.

Joseph A. Gondolfo,

Y., assignors to Rainbows, Inc.,

Bronx, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application March 13, 1953, Serial No. 342,164

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a sanitary magnetically actuated valve for controlling the flow of milk, syrups and other fluids intended for human consumption. Such valve may be used in dispensers of various kinds, for example, coinactuated dispensers.

Amon the objects of the invention are to provide a valve structure including both a magnetically controlled shut-off valve and a manually adjustable variable-orifice valve which, without tools, can be completely disassembled and reassembled, exposing all parts where decomposable matter might accumulate, in order to facilitate cleaning and sterilization.

This application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application Serial No. 102,845 filed July 2, 1949, now abandoned.

Reference is made to the attached drawings forming part hereof in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal axial section through the preferred form of valve made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a partial section on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of valve element 28;

Fig. 4 is a partial. longitudinal axial section similar to Fig. l but limited to the center portion of the valve, showing a magnetic valve member of different shape from that shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the upper end of the magnetic valve member shown in Fig. 4.

The valve of the present invention comprises, among other things, a straight main tube or sleeve body I 0, one end portion I I of which is externally helically screw-threaded for engagement therewith of lug IZa on the inner surface of upper cap !2, and the other end portion I3 of which is externally helically screw-threaded for engagement therewith of lug Ma on the inner surface of lower cap I l. Said lugs may be formed by indentation of the outer surface of the cap. A solenoid coil I5 having conductive leads I6, I! for energization thereof, is wound upon a central tube or bore I8 adapted to engage externally of or interflt upon main tube I and to be freely slidable thereon for convenient removal of the valve structure from within the coil. Coil I may be protected by a casing I5a. Coil I5 is of such length that, when caps I2 and I4 are screwed down into seated position, as hereinafter described, the coil is engaged between the respective inner ends thereof and is thus secured against displacement axially of the main tube I0,

and tube It extends outwardly beyond both ends of casing I500.

Receiving tube or inlet fitting IQ comprises a nipple 20, to which a liquid feed pipe may be tached, a shank portion 2| adapted to fit slidably and fairly snugly within tube I0, and a reduced shank portion 22 providing a shoulder 23 serving as an abutment for a spring 24, described below. A central opening extends from end to end of tube I9. Tube I9 also has a circumferential projecting flange 25 shaped to form a shoulder 26 which is adapted to be engaged by annular lip 27 of upper cap I2. This flange is of about the same diameter as the external diameter of main tube ill. Tube I9 is also preferably provided with a variable-orifice valve 28 passing through two alined. holes 29, 3B in opposite walls of receiving tube I9 and held by an adjusting head SI and cotter pin 32 engaging groove 33 and washer 34. A pair of rubber washers 35, 36 prevent escape of fluid around the shank of valve member 28. The walls of tube I9 have parallel flat surfaces at 31 and 38 for engagement of washers 35 and 36.

The shank portion 2| of receiving tube I9 is of such external diameter as to be adapted to be thrust within one end of main tube I0, with its reduced shank portion penetrating to or adjacent to the center region of main tube It adapted to be surrounded by coil I5, for example as shown in Fig. 1. Receiving tube I 9 is adapted to be secured in this position by engagement of its projecting flange 25, and more particularly shoulder 26 thereof, with the annular lip 27 forming part of the upper cap I2. Thus, when cap I2 is screwed down, receiving tube I9 is forced downwardly into main tube I I3. A circular rubber washer 39, snugly fitting around shank 2| and within cap 52, serves as a stop for this motion when it is engaged and compressed between projectingflange 25 and the extreme end portion II of main tube i8. Washer 39 also prevents leakage of fluid from within the valve.

Delivery tube or outlet fitting 40 is provided with nipple 4|, to which a liquid delivery pipe may be attached, and shank portion 42, the latter being of such outside diameter as to be slidably and fairly snugly engageable within lower end portion I3 of main tube I0. Shank portion 42 is provided, at its open upper end, with a conical valve seat 43, whose externally sloping sides surround an opening 44 which ispart of the internal bore extending from end to end of tube 40. Tube 4% also includes a projecting circumferential flange 45 of about the same external diameter as that of tube I0 and adapted 'the exterior segmental spaces 49. able rubber plug 54, shaped somewhat like a to be engaged by annular lip 45 of lower cap I4. Thus, when lower cap i4 is screwed up, delivery tube 49 is moved longitudinally into the interior of tube I0. A circular rubber washer 41, snugly fitting within cap l4 and around shank portion 42, affords a stop for such movement. When cap 5 is tightened up, flange 45 of delivery tube 40 compresses rubber washer 41 against the extreme lower end of portion [3 of main tube l0, thus preventing leakage of fluid from inside the valve at this point.

Within tube 16, and intermediate the lower end of shank portion 22 of receiving tube i9, and valve seat 43 of delivery tube 49, is positioned a magnetically responsive valve member 7 48, freely slidable within main tube 1 and guided thereby in its movement axially of tube H), which is movable between limits of motion determined at the upper end by contact of member 38 with the lower end of shank .portion 22, and at the lower end by contact of rubber plug 55 (to be described) with valve seat 43.

Valve member 48 is made of magnetic material and is so shaped, with reference to the interior wall of tube H], as to permit the passage of fluid longitudinally of tube HI between the interior walls of tube it and the lateral surfaces of valve 48, in all positions of valve 43. According to the preferred form of this invention valve member 48 is formed of stock whose lateral configuration is that of a hexagon having straight sides (see Figs. 2 and which, with the curving walls of tube Iii, form a .plurality of fluid passageways 49 (Fig. '2).

According to the preferred form of this invention (see Figs. 1 and 2) valve member 45 comprises two tubular portions-an upper tubular portion 5!) whose outer surface is cylindrical and whose outer diameter approximates the outer diameter of reduced shank portion 22 of receiving tube 19, and a lower tubular portion 52 formed of tubular stock whose external configuration is hexagonal as seen in a plane normal to the axis, and whose diameter through the apices of the hexagon is slightly less than the internal diameter of tube Ill, thus permitting valve member 48 to be freely slidable lengthwise within tube Iii. Where portions 50 and Si join an annular shoulder Sic is formed. Member 48 is provided with a series of holes 52, 53 permitting fiow of fluid from the interior drilling to A removcork, is frictionally engaged within the open lower end of the drilling in portion 55, preferably in such position that its projecting larger end as is adapted to engage across opening M with the edges of valve seat 43. This engagement becomes the effective shut-off valve mechanism of the device, when valve member 48 is moved downwardly within tube I0.

The motion of valve 48 is controlled in part by spring 24 compressed between shoulder 23 and shoulder 5m, and by the forces exerted upon valve member 48 by magnetic flux when coil is energized, tending 'to raise valve member 43 against the compression of spring 2t.

Caps i2 and i4 may be regarded as consisting, respectively of ahead portion and a dependent annular skirt. The head portion is perforated to afford clearance for the inlet-and outlet fittings l9 and 40, respectively, the edges of these perforations constituting shoulder and lip 46 to which reference has been made above. The two caps, whose skirts have means to engage the screw-threads at each end of tube Ill, con stitute the primary means by which all the principal parts are held together, and by which the entire structure may be readily disassembled for cleaning. When the two caps are tightened down, each fitting is forced against one end of the main tube ill with washer 39, 41 compressed between them, thus assuring a structure which is liquid-tight from end to end. The caps also have the function, performed through the lower extremities of their skirts, of locating and securing the coil IS in proper position mid-way along tube it. Removal of caps l2 and i4 releases all of these parts, which may then be cleaned an sterilized if desired.

According to a modification of the invention the movable valve member may consist of a solid block of magnetic material, having a hexagonal configuration and suitably bored or cut at each of its ends as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and described below.

In this form of the invention (see Figs. 4 and 5) the valve member 48' is cut away at one or more places at its upper end to provide inclined channels 56 and intervening fiat portions '51 where the top of the member has been left undisturbed. The arrangement at the upper end is such that spring 24 bears against surfaces 5'1, but when valve member 48 is in its uppermost position so that surfaces 5? come in contact with the lower end of shank portion 22, there is ample space for fluid issuing downwardly from the bore of shank portion 22 to pass through inclined channels 56 to the segmental spaces 49 at the sides of member 38. In this form of the invention a rubber plug 58 is seated within a drilling 59 at the lower end of member 48', and the lower end portion 60 of this plug is adapted to engage with valve seat 13 and thus to close opening 5-4 against the flow of fluid through the valve. This closing is effected by spring 24 when coil 15 is not energized; the valve is opened when energization 0f'c0i1'i5 raises valve member 48' against the resistance of spring 2G.

'Ihe invention is not limited to the particular form of device or devices here shown but comprehends structures equivalent thereto.

We claim:

1. A sanitary magnetically operated valve comprising a solenoid coil, a casing therefor having a centrally disposed bore therein, a sleeve body interfitting with said bore and extending outwardly beyond both ends of said casing and having a helical groove in each exposed end thereof, inlet and outlet fittings carried within the upper and lower ends respectively of said sleeve body and each provided with a longitudinal central opening extending from end to end of each fitting, one end of the outlet fitting constituting a valve seat, a shoulder on each fitting lying adjacent an end of said sleeve body, a compressible sealing gasket interposed between each said shoulder and an end of said body, a, removable cap at each end of the valve for retaining each of said fittings in mounted position within said sleeve body, each said cap having an opening receiving an end of one of said fittingaan indentation on each cap frictionally engaging within one of saidgrooves in the sleeve body, a multi-sided valve element of magnetic material having inclined channels at its upper end and movable within said sleeve body and having the sides thereof spaced from said body to form a plurality of passageways for transmitting liquid from the opening in the inlet fitting to that in the outlet fitting, said channels intersecting said passage ways, a block of compressible material embedded within said valve element and a spring interposed between said inlet fitting and said valve element normally urging said valve element to a position engaging said valve seat whereby said block of material will efiectively close and seal the passageway in said outlet fitting.

2. A sanitary magnetically operable valve comprising, in combination, a main tube adapted to be enclosed at its mid-portion by a solenoid coil freely slidable thereon, with the ends of the tube projecting beyond the coil and having external screw-threads thereon; an inlet fitting having at one end a receiving nipple and at the other end a tube portion adapted to extend into the upper end of the main tube and terminating in a delivery orifice therein, said inlet fitting having between its nipple and tube portion a projecting circumferential fiange whose outer diameter is approximately equal to the external diameter of the main tube; an outlet fitting having at one end a delivery nipple and at the other end a tube portion adapted to extend into the lower end of the main tube and terminating in a valve-seat orifice therein, said outlet fitting having between its nipple and tube portion a projecting circumferential flange whose outer diameter is approximately equal to the external diameter of the main tube; a valve member of magnetic material movable axially of the main tube in the midportion thereof between said delivery orifice and said valve-seat orifice in response to changes in magnetic flux produced by said coil and thus to open and close said valve-seat orifice; an annular washer interposed between each end of the main tube and one of said circumferential flanges; and a pair of caps one at each end of the main tube, each ca consisting of a perforated head portion and a dependent annular skirt, said skirts having means to engage the screwthreads at each end of said tube, the head portion of one of said caps being adapted to compress the flange of the inlet fitting and one end of the main tube upon the washer between them, and the head portion of the other cap being adapted to compress the flange of the outlet fitting and the other end of the main tube upon the washer between them, the skirts of both said caps serving to confine and locate the coil at about the midpoint of the main tube.

3. A valve as described in claim 2 wherein there is a continuous tube axially throughout the length of the magnetic valve member and a cork-like rubber plug of generally frusto-conical shape is frictionally and removably inserted within one end of this tube and is adapted to serve as the closure for said valve-seat orifice.

4. A valve as described in claim 2 wherein the magnetic valve member has inclined channels at one end and at the other a rubber insert adapted to serve as the closure for said valve-seat orifice.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,538,092 Cohen May 19, 1925 2,267,515 Wilcox Dec. 23, 1941 2,279,243 Parsons Apr. 7, 1942 2,297,076 Sacks Sept. 29, 1942 2,328,382 Langson Aug. 31, 1943 2,561,922 Hall July 24, 1951 2,634,757 Haughton Apr. 14, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 574,387 France 1924 

